The Remote Video Player software allows one to control video file playback on a computer using any mobile device, as long as both the computer and device are located on the same network. I wrote this software as an alternative to local video streaming because most video streaming programs compress the video before streaming it, which results in a decrease in video quality. I use this software in my home where I have a computer directly connected to my HDTV that is not easily accessible from my room's sitting area. Technically I could queue and control video files using a wireless mouse and/or keyboard, but it is much more convenient to do so with my phone.

Basically how the program works is that on your computer you tell the program which directory contains your video files. Next on your mobile device, you load the program webpage, connect to the computer, and then pick which video file you would like the computer to play.

The computer program is written in C++ using the Qt libraries. The mobile program is written in HTML5 and JavaScript using the jQuery mobile libraries. The two programs communicate using the WebSocket protocol. Here are links to all of the program's releases:

Remote Video Player 1.2.1 (Windows 32-bit)

Remote Video Player 1.2.0 (Windows 32-bit)

Remote Video Player 1.1.0 (Windows 32-bit)

Remote Video Player 1.0.0 (Windows 32-bit)

Here is a screen shot of the program:

The program has been designed to be as simple as possible while still providing all of the video playback options that a user would find useful. Any user-configurable options that can be changed are remembered by the program.

• Details on the network communication between the program and mobile device are provided to help troubleshoot problems. When the program is first opened, it suggests some possible IP addresses that the mobile device can try connecting to.
• The current directly list that will be sent to the mobile device is shown.
• The "Set Directory" button allows the default starting directory to be selected.
• The file sort order can be set to organize files by name, size, or date. Directories will always be shown at the top of the list.
• Full-screen video playback can be toggled.
• Normally video playback will be performed using the Qt Phonon libraries which use whichever codecs are currently installed on the computer.
• The program also supports playback using the popular video playback program Media Player Classic (Homecinema) (MPC).
  • Once the program's path has been set, this program will be used for playback.
• When using MPC for playback, the playback monitor and audio device can be set.
  • This means that if the 'extended desktop' option is used for the computer connected to the TV, you can specifically have the video play on the TV.
  • Additionally, the 'audio output' option allows you to pick the TV's audio output for video playback rather than the computer's output.

For MPC, the screen number can be determined by opening the resolution options and clicking the 'Identify' button as shown in the image below. This window appears slightly differently in different versions of windows.

The audio output number can be determined by opening Media Player Classic and accessing the window under View > Options...

After selecting 'Output' from the list on the left, the window shown in the image below will be visible. The combobox under 'Audio Renderer' shows all of the possible audio output devices for the computer. It may not be obvious which menu item corresponds to each audio output device, so some trial and error experimentation may be required to determine the correct number.

A screen shot of the mobile device program is shown below. The program consists of two pages. This first page contains options for connecting to the host computer, and for controlling video playback.

As long as both the host computer and the mobile device are located on the same local network, one can type in the IP address of the computer and press the 'Connect' button to connect to the computer. For example, if both devices were connected to the same wireless router, then this would work. If a connection is successful the mobile device will save the IP address and automatically switch to the file list view that is shown in the image below.

This view shows the current file list. Tapping on a folder will open it, and tapping on a file will play the file. A toggle option for playback in Media Player Classic is also provided. If a video file is selected, it will automatically begin to play and the program will also automatically switch back to the playback page.